JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (4-5, 0-3 South Atlantic Conference) men's basketball will be looking to avoid the program's second 0-4 start in SAC play since the turn of the century when it travels to Goodman Gym Wednesday to face off with Catawba (3-5, 2-2 SAC) at 7 p.m.
The Eagles, picked second in the preseason poll, find themselves a half game in front of Coker for the bottom spot in the league standings.
Carson-Newman has started 0-3 in South Atlantic Conference play for the first time since 2006-07. That year the Eagles lost their first nine conference games that year en route to a 2-14 finish in league action.
Granted, Carson-Newman's three conference losses have come against stout competition. LMU and Queens were picked first and third in the preseason poll, respectively and Newberry is 2-2 in conference play. Combined the three schools are 10-2 in league action this year. Both Queens and LMU are unbeaten, nationally ranked and the Eagles had to face both those teams on the road.
The Eagles' first three games in SAC play amount to the toughest opening conference schedule of any team in the league. Only Lenoir-Rhyne has a comparable opening to their conference schedule. The Bears first three opponents were 8-3 in league play, but L-R got to play Catawba, Wingate and LMU on its home floor.
Much of the Eagles' troubles this season have dealt with ball control. The Eagles are 296 nationally in turnover margin (-6.6) and 17th worst in turnovers (17.1). This comes with an offense that has been mind-blowingly efficient when it does take care of the basketball. The Eagles are 12th in field goal percentage (51.0) and 4th in three-point field goal percentage (44.5).
Even with averaging 17.1 turnovers per game, the Eagles have a 0.918 assist to turnover ratio.
"This goes back to our individual players," head coach Chuck Benson said. "I could say we have a young inexperienced backcourt with just one junior guard and four sophomores or freshmen back there. But I won't. The reality is that turnovers are one of those things no matter what we do or say, the individual has to step up and take care of the basketball. We have 20 turnovers a game in conference play. We won't win a conference game if that keeps up."
Carson-Newman is averaging 20 turnovers a game in conference play and opponents are averaging 12.8 made threes a game in league action. In its losses, Carson-Newman is outscored an average of 21.6-10.4 in points off turnovers.
Defensively, the Indians only force 11.5 turnovers a game. In spite of a lack of defensive havoc, the Indians still lock down on opponents.
Catawba has the conference's best three-point field goal percentage defense (28.8) while taking the fewest threes in lead play. The Indians attempt 16 threes a game.
The Indians have been playing this year without player of the year candidate KJ Arrington, who went down with an ACL tear in the preseason. In his stead, Rakeem Brown, Jameel Taylor and last year's league freshman of the year Jerrin Morrison have all stepped up and are averaging double figures.
"KJ Arrington is a huge loss for them," Benson said. "But they still have players who have been there and know this league. They are a tough challenge because they're so stout defensively. They won't concede anything and it comes down to a grinding type match. We know going in it'll be a tough battle. Both teams will be hungry too to get wins and start wrapping up the first semester performing at a higher level."
Tipoff from Goodman Gym is set for 8 Wednesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:45 p.m. with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
